Mixed start to season for Roosters

May 20, 2009

Updated: Tuesday, June 8, 2010 (10:10)

Hainault Bulldogs 34 – 20 St Ives Roosters St Ives made the trip south to take on Hainault Bulldogs at Dagenham RFC on Saturday, but returned empty-handed after a disappointing defeat. Roosters got off to a bad start when Joe Jones crossed to open the sco

Hainault Bulldogs 34 - 20 St Ives Roosters

St Ives made the trip south to take on Hainault Bulldogs at Dagenham RFC on Saturday, but returned empty-handed after a disappointing defeat.

Roosters got off to a bad start when Joe Jones crossed to open the scoring for Hainault after just four minutes, and Danny Collins converted. However, within three minutes Michael Drake had struck back for Roosters to make it 6-4.

Roosters conceded several penalties as Hainault looked to stretch their lead, and the hosts were awarded a second try through Joshua Cook, and Collins made no mistake with the kick.

Roosters got back into the game in the most unlikely way, defending a scrum on their own line before Paul Ashbridge got the ball in hand. He ran the length of the pitch to score the first of his three tries, and another from Andrew Dean swiftly to make the score 12-12 at the break.

The strong wind continued to blow in the second half, making life difficult for both teams. Matt Tilly ran over for Hainault, before Ashbridge struck again.

A rash of Hainault substitutions turned the game decisively in the home side's favour on the hour mark. A Graham Baily try, followed by a Stuart Beattie overlap on the left wing and a Collins conversion made the score 28-16.

Ashbridge got his third try on 70 minutes to give Roosters hope, but Bulldogs extended their lead again through Stuart Beattie and the ever-reliable boot of Collins. Despite struggling with injuries, Roosters battled to the end.

Roosters had made a bright start to their campaign the previous week, taking an early lead through tries fro Dan McCormack, Eddie Drummond and Steven Baskerville. However they let Saxons back into the game, and trailed 16-18 at the break. Baskerville touched down again, and after Saxons rallied one last time, tries from Andrew Dean Adam Peel, and another from McCormack put the finishing touches to victory.